A very good reply above.
Also do not get sucked in by the frequent flyer blogs. They survive ($$$$) on your clicks.
Originally Posted by
choff5507
8. Next year in 2018 I would like to go to New Zealand & Australia. Since this is obviously a long flight, I would like to have a game plan formulated for flying at a minimum business but preferably first class. I am open to dates, so I'm not limited by going at a certain time of year. While there are some options via UR points I'm curious if anyone has suggestions of other point programs and airlines.
Premium cabin awards USA - Australia - NZ are one the hardest to get. There are many threads on this topic, including 2 long AA threads. For example Qantas QF freq flyers can book 355 days out where as with AA its only 330 days. QF & AA are frequent flyer partners, so
nominally the same (saver) award availability.
Have you flown long haul in a premium cabin, preferably on a non USA airline? Many people in USA seem to think first is like most USA domestic first class.
It's not. Most USA domestic first class is closer to better premium economy/lesser business class on a good quality international airline. Business class is fine for 95% of people. Most Au/NZ-USA flights are overnight anyway.
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from Australia (not from all airports to all airports)
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American Airlines AA (LAX - SYD) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
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Air Canada AC (YYR – SYD, BNE from Jun 2016) [Star Alliance]
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Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR via AKL) [Star Alliance]
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Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX via Tahiti. Last segments on codeshares) (AA & DL partner)
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Delta DL (LAX – SYD) (VA & AS partner) [Skyteam Alliance]
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Fiji Airways FJ (LAX SFO HNL via Fiji) (QF, AA & AS partner)
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Hawaiian HA (HNL – SYD BNE via Hawaii) (AA & VA partner)
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Jetstar JQ JQ (HNL – SYD BNE)
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Qantas QF (LAX SFO JFK DFW HNL YVR*– SYD BNE MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner) {* seasonal}
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United UA (LAX SFO – SYD MEL) [Star Alliance]
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Virgin Australia VA (LAX – SYD BNE) (DL partner) MEL LAX restarting 4 April 2017
And others via Asia & Middle East
Airlines that fly USA/Canada to/from New Zealand are (not from all airports to all airports)
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American Airlines AA (LAX - AKL) from 23 June 2016 [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
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Air New Zealand NZ (LAX SFO IAH YVR - AKL)[Star Alliance]
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Air Tahiti Nui TN (LAX AKL via Tahiti) (AA & DL partner)
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Fiji Airways FJ (LAX SFO HNL via Fiji) (QF AA & AS partner)
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Hawaiian HA (HNL-AKL)(AA & VA partner)
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Qantas QF (via SYD BNE & MEL) [OneWorld Alliance] (AS partner)
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United UA (SFO - AKL) from July 2016
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Virgin Australia VA (via BNE & SYD) (DL partner)
And others via Australia, Asia & Middle East
Are you a member of any ffp's now?
How much flying have you done?
Look here
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html